Self-propelled bomb



Patented Aug. 24, 1943 2,327,621; snLF-PnoPELLEn 50MB Sarzcu el L. Conrad, Columbus, i 7 Application January 26,1942; Serial No. 423,201 I. i Claims." (c1; ree 19 The invention to be hereinafter described-relates to self propelled bombs;

Several types of self propelled bombs are known both for land and water use. Onewell known variety is the widely used torpedo for sub marine warfare. As heretofore constructed, self propelled bombs have been made to travel in a given direction or predetermined path toward a predetermined object or target and atan approximately uniform rate of speed. Such bombs I have been mechanically complicated and correspondingly costly. And, of course, when they did not hit their mark, a preselected target, as H was frequent1y the case, they were ineffective and a total loss.

The main purposes of the present invention are to overcome the above andother objections and provide a simple,. efiicient, compact, self propelled bomb which may be readily produced in great quantities at low cost 'and whi'c'h, when released, will travel erratically and irregularly, as though entirely out of control, so that an enemy can not anticipate its direction of travel, its rate of travel or its intended or probable destination or target. V

The single figure of thedrawing is a diamet rical cross section through the invention along the axis of mounting of the poweror driving unit showing diagrammatically or schematically, the

power unit and immediately cooperating parts.

In addition to the destructive effect of the bomb, an added object or purpose of the present invention is that of creating fear and consternation. In the present invention that purpose is accomplished by causing the bomb to travel erratically, changing direction without apparent reason or system, such changes being entirely automatic and unpredictable by the enemy. Such a bomb, charged with high explosive, gas, or other war agent, released among enemy troops and darting first in one direction and then in another, liable to explosion orv discharge at any instant, would have great terrifying effect in addition to its highly destructive explosive effect',

One very simple form of the invention is shown schematically or in diagram in the drawing and it is believed that such showing will be ample for illustration and a clear understanding, a

great many changes, variations and modifications of that showing being, clearly, possible though all embodying the same present invention. On the other hand, further illustration, probably, would decrease clearness of disclosure rather than increase it; -Therefore, further illustration in the drawingis unnecessary to'fully convey theinvention to those slrilled in the art to which it relates.-

Referring to the travelling in-any direction'and of changing that direction. erratically 'to any other direction :in 'stantly."- It may be made infany numberof sections .or parts and by any knownprocess' or method A fsimple"construction-is two equal parts orhalf-spheres electrically welded together along their edges. Anyother manner or means of connecting the parts may be used, of course. Electric welding is simple, eificient and relatively cheap. "Within each such half-sphere is disposed at heavystrong wall or partition 2, welded or otherwise suitably secured to the inner. face or that section These two partitions are so placed or positioned in (their respective sections as towbe parallel to each other when the sphere sections are assembled. Extending through each sphere section. from its outersurface and through it's respective'partition, perpendicularly to that par tition, is a tubular bearing 3, suitably secured in place as by welding or other acceptable method. In assembled relation, these tubular bear-. I ings establish communicationbetween the inside and the outside of the-sphere, It will be'noti'ced- (that, in assembled relation, partitions "2 divide the ball or spherei into three parts or chambers or compartments, two arcu'ate segments 3 and 5'and an intermediate zone-com partment or chamber 6.

contain the bomb charge or charges. The manner or'method of lloadingthe charges into their respective compartments or chambers forms no part of the present invention, Any acceptable way or method may be "used, Openings, with suitable closures may be provided at any point in the partitions 'for such charging if desired.

It is not believedeither necessary or desirable to illustrate any form or arrangement of suchwell known detailsl It will also be obvious that the chargesmay be of any desired character-4.. e. high power explosive for demolition, incendiary, gas, etc., etc.

drawingin'detail, l; indicates I the body ofthe bomb. Itis a hollow ball or sphere and, therefore, capable V of rolling 1 or Segments 1 and 5 are adapted to'be suitably charged with, receive "or Also it will be clear that the bombs I and exhaust of the engine. They are, of course, made heavier and stronger than the regular or standard inlet and exhaust connections or conduits and their connections to the engine are,

necessarily, much stronger to carry the load and take up the strains of supporting the engine in that manner.' To the usual power shaft of the engine In is made fast a gear I l in mesh with and driving gear 12 fixed to arm 9. For simplicity, a single set of gears has been shown for driving the ball or sphere at relatively high speed. Any other ratio of gears desired may be used, as will be well understood. Likewise, two sets of gears could be used, one for high speed and one for low, 1 with an automatic clutch to shift from one to the other all as will be well understood and need not be illustrated in detail in the drawing.

The fuel supply of the engine. will be carried in the tank IQ of any acceptable form and con-1 struction, secured'to and carried by the engine,

shown, assume that the engine has been started.

The intermeshed, gears will tend to lift the engine and tank in an arcuate path or swing them upwardly about the'axial mounting 3, 3,, 9. This shifts the center of gravity of the sphere and the ball rolls, and, of course, asthe engine continues to drive, the center-of gravity continues to shift and the ball continues to roll or travel to reestablish the former center of gravity. Ihis will continue as long as the engine operates and the. engine will continue to operateaslong as its supply of fuel lasts.

Being a sphere, no amount of tippingtoone side or another by surfacecontour or obstacles can overturn it or upset it. It can and will be deflected readily and easily so" that it will auto- .matically dodge or avoid many obstacles resulting in a very erratic path. wholely unpredictable and incapable of being anticipated by an enemy. Its direction of travel is dependent 'upon its center of gravity and that changes with obstructions and contours met.

Since it is at all times in gean'the engine may be started by simply turning or rotating the sphere or shell which, of course, has the same efiect as cranking an engine. To do this simply catch one or another of the ground gripping spikes l5 and swing. This is possible because the bomb is supported, when ready for use, in

, r cks or other suitable means by axles, rods, pins or the like extending into the outer ends of the bearings 3. Such supports being no'part of this invention, are not illustrated here. The particular bomb is moved-into-position'for release, its shell is spun to start theengine and its supports are then withdrawn, launching the bomb. As the shell startsrotating, spikes i5 engage the surface and it starts totravel.

Due to their erratic travel, such bombs would be particularly effective when released in troop concentrations. Carried by planes, they could be dropped by parachute, the engine being started before discharge from the plane, theconnection between parachute and bomb being such that the bomb would be automatically released from its parachute as it contacted the groundi Such More than two partitions 2 maybe used. In

fact, any number desired maybe used and, likements similar to 4 and 5.

wise, the interior of the shell may be divided into an desired number of chambers or compart- It hardly need be added that the material used willv be such that it will give the desired strength and durability necessary to meet all contingencies of the intended use, including the desired degree of fragmentation for high explosive the invention is to be so used.

It is thought that the construction, operation and use of the invention will be clear from the preceding detailed description;

Many change may be made in the construction, arrangement and disposition of the various bombs, where 7 parts of. the invention within the scope of the appended claimswithout departing from the field of the invention and it is meant to include all such within this application, wherein only one preferred construction has been illustrated, pureiy by wayof illustration and with no intention to in any degree limit the claim. thereby.

Having thus disclosed my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A bomb construction comprising a spherical shell, spaced parallel partitions within said shell dividing the same into chambers, tubular bearings extending diametrically through said" shell and partitions, and in the space between said partitions an internal combustion engine revolubly mounted in said bearings and hanging therebelow in free swinging relation and driving connections between said engine and one of said bearings.

2. A bomb construction comprising a spherical shell, spaced parallel partitions within said shell dividing the same into chambers, tubular bearingsextending diametrically tln'ough said shell and partitions, an internal combustion. engine within said shell, inlet and exhaust conduitsfixed to said engine, extendin into said bearings and revolubly suspending said engine therefrom and therebelow, and gearing connections between said engine and one of said tubular bearings for driving said shell from said engine.

3. v A bomb construction comprising a spherical shell, spacedparallel partitions within said shell, dividing said shell into charge receiving chambers and an intermediate engine chamber, an internal combustion engine within said engine chamber, said engine including a fuel tank and an air mixer, tubular bearings extending diametrically through said shell and partitionsand inlet and outlet or exhaust conduits fixed to said engine, extendin into said bearings and revolubly suspending said engine therefrom and therebelow, and gearing connection between said engine and one of said tubular bearings for driving said shell from said engine.

i. A bomb construction comprising sections of a sphere eachhaving a, partition forming a charge receiving chamber within said section and each provided withcna tubular bearing extending completely throughits chamber and throughthe section walland partition, said sections being connected to form a sphere with their respective partition in spaced relation, and the aforesaid tubular bearings alined, an internal combustion engine within the space between said partitions, inlet and exhaust conduits fixed to said engine, extending into said bearings and revolubly suspending said engine therefrom and therebelow, and gearing connections between saidengine and one of said tubular bearings fordrivinlg-said shell from said engine.

5. A bomb construction comprising two semispherical sections each provided with a partition forming a charge receiving chamber and each partition disposed inwardly of its section relatively to its edge, said partitions, in assembled one of said tubular bearings for driving said hell lar 'bearing extending completely through the chamber of each section and through the secfrom said engine. 5

- SAMUEL L; CONRAD.

relation bein parallel and spaced to provide an engine receiving chamber therebetween, a tubu- H 

